Chapter 712: The First External Wife of the Dungeon World Is Born

On the 17th Floor of the Dungeon Labyrinth, the Sighing Wall was already covered in spiderweb-like cracks; giant stones rumbled and rolled down, as if the entire Labyrinth were trembling, announcing the return of the Layer Lord, Giant Goliath.

Before this Layer Lord could patrol its Territory, the white-haired youth in the Distance drew his bow and nocked an arrow; two shafts tore through the air, piercing precisely into the Giant's Skin.

But to Goliath's colossal body, this bit of injury was negligible; yet that provoking intent was enough to draw its Hatred.

"Roar—!"

The roar shook the Sighing Wall; Goliath suddenly broke free of the Sighing Wall's bonds, but because the movement was too abrupt, it tripped on the rubble underfoot and crashed onto the Ground with a boom.

But it quickly flipped over, like a deformed human spider, crawling toward Bell's Direction on all fours.

After firing the arrows, Bell unhesitatingly turned and sprinted toward a nearby rubble pile; before Goliath could catch up, he flashed into hiding inside it.

In the Shadow of the rubble pile, Broly lay in ambush.

When Goliath, lured by Bell, stepped into this trap zone, he suddenly emerged from atop a Giant Stone, toes kicking off the stone surface, his figure shooting like an arrow from a bow toward the Giant's neck.

The "Fire Joy" in his hand was infused with a thin strand of Qi; the blade blazed with a dazzling crimson light.

A flash of light streaked by; blood sprayed in all directions.

Taking advantage of the opening while Goliath's attention was drawn by Bell, Broly severed its head in a single stroke.

Already well aware of the Giant's Recovery Ability, Broly gave the opponent no chance to sneak up on him again; sword blossoms bloomed like flames on the headless corpse, and in the blink of an eye Goliath's four Limbs were successively severed.

The massive trunk crashed to the ground; whenever even a shred of Flesh twitched, showing signs of recovery, Broly's blade would accurately fall, slicing it off.

Three Minutes later, the Giant's body on the ground turned into motes of flying ash, announcing the 17th Floor Layer Lord's fall once more.

"Broly-san! Big drop! It's a big drop!"

Bell on the side shouted excitedly; although this time he had only played the role of Bait, he had still genuinely participated in the feat of subjugating the Floor Boss.

The corner of Broly's mouth curved upward; not in vain had he crouched here for Half a Day: "Bell, clean up the Battlefield, move the Loot out."

Aggroing, ambushing, and killing Goliath took only a mere Five Minutes, but hauling those drops and that colossal Magic Stone out of the Labyrinth intact consumed a full two hours for the two of them.

To preserve the Magic Stone's integrity, they had to avoid narrow passages and deliberately choose wide Routes; that was what cost so much extra time.

"Good, good. The things you brought this time, especially this super-large Magic Stone — to be preserved so completely; judging by this quality alone, I can give you a total price of One Hundred Million Valis."

Chun, the One-Eyed Craftsman of the Hephaestus Familia, gazed at the Magic Stone before her with unstinting praise, and the price she offered far exceeded the ordinary.

She shifted tone and added: "But Broly, I have to tell you the truth — if you sell this Magic Stone to the Guild alone, given its size and completeness, the purchase price would be at least over Ten Million Valis higher than here.

After all, we only keep a portion for our own use when we buy it back; the rest still has to be resold to the Guild."

The Guild of Orario monopolizes all Magic Stone business; Adventurers may use Magic Stones themselves or sell them to other Familias, but are strictly forbidden from reselling them to Merchant Guilds — this is to firmly grip the pricing power over Magic Stones.

"Hauling it back and forth is too much Trouble; I'll just sell to you, Hephaestus Familia."

Broly waved his hand.

"Doing it like this, you'll lose over Ten Million Valis."

Chun couldn't help but Remind him.

"Doesn't matter. That little price difference, just treat it as buying you and Lord Hephaestus a meal."

"You brat, quite Generous." Chun's tone carried a teasing note. "Could it be you have designs on me, or on Lady Hephaestus?"

"Huh? Why would you say that?"

Broly looked at this tall Craftsman with a blank face.

"My oh my, you previously shouted in front of everyone that you wanted to simultaneously encounter Liliruca and Lady Hestia."

Chun laughed slyly.

"Over Ten Million Valis, and you just let it go. How does the old saying go?

No kindness without ulterior motive — either a knave or a thief.

Thief certainly doesn't apply; so what's left but knave?"

I consider my looks not bad, and Lady Hephaestus is a beauty; you're aiming for that, aren't you, kid?"

She frankly laid it out: "How about it? Want to encounter me? Since you're so generous with perks, I don't mind being encountered by you."

"Uh———— Miss Chun, are you that easily encountered?"

"Rather than saying I'm easily encountered, I've simply never been encountered before." Chun threw back her head and laughed heartily, voice clear and bright. "I'm thirty-eight years old and still an old maid, hahaha!"

"? Miss Chun, you're already thirty-eight?"

Bell was a little surprised.

"What? Don't I look it?"

"I thought you were thirty at most, maybe only twenty-seven or twenty-eight!"

Bell spoke the honest truth.

"Haha, young man Bell, you really know how to talk!"

Chun Cobrand laughed even more cheerfully, raising her hand to slap Bell's back.

The force of that palm nearly made Bell grimace on the spot.

The youth instantly understood — no wonder Miss Chun, despite her outstanding looks, had no suitors at thirty-eight.

Her strength surpasses that of ordinary men, her height far exceeds that of average Males, and her conduct is even more heroic than a man's; such a temperament is probably not the type most Males in Orario would like.

【Broly-san, would you want to encounter Miss Chun?】

Bell glanced secretly at the Saiyan boy beside him, muttering inwardly.

"If you don't mind, just being one among my many wives."

Broly pondered a moment, then gave his answer.

"Haha, men — wanting to embrace left and right and open a Harem is perfectly normal!" Chun laughed without a care. "You go ahead and open it; I fully support you, just don't think of me when I'm forging."

This remark made both Broly's and Bell's expressions turn a bit Subtle; this One-Eyed Craftsman really is an uninhibited tomboy.

But, earning Happiness Points — this matter isn't a problem.

Since the other party doesn't mind, Broly naturally doesn't mind hanging an External Wife of This World right now.

【Hmm, Chun's personality is very cheerful; I suppose the cost will be recovered soon enough.】

Broly thought to himself.

The internal space of the Crystal Palace could not be opened now due to the Super Weighted Training skill, but the functions of generating figurines for others and binding identities were unaffected.

When the words 【Generated】 appeared on the panel, Broly raised his head to look at Chun and asked seriously: "Then, Miss Chun Cobrand, are you willing to encounter me and agree to be my wife?"

Chun was stunned upon hearing this, then looked surprised: ", what is this magic? A voice suddenly sounded in my head, and a line of text appeared before my eyes?"

What she perceived was precisely the invitation transmitted directly into her consciousness by the Crystal Palace: 【Are you willing to join the Crystal Palace?】

"It can be considered a kind of magic."

Broly nodded.

"Miss Chun, you wouldn't be going back on your word, would you?"

The boy couldn't help but worry a little.

"Haha, am I the kind of person who goes back on their word?"

Chun waved her hand and replied crisply: "I agree to join!"

Once the words fell, Broly's Crystal Palace External Wife gained one more person.

", is this your previous spatial ability?"

Chun discovered the Crystal Palace panel appearing in her consciousness and subconsciously began to operate it.

Since she was not a Capture Target, she had no basic Happiness Value conversion into Happiness Points, but she could still enjoy all the privileges due to an Official Member of the Crystal Palace.

Of course, since Broly had chosen Variable Speed Traversal, the Group Chat Room function could not be used temporarily.

However, the internal space of non-Environment Modules could be used normally.

Chun soon took out a Bay Beast Fruit stored inside from within the Crystal Palace Space.

", you can actually use it normally?"

Broly was somewhat surprised.

"Hmm, can't you?"

Chun retorted in one sentence, then realized—if Broly could use it, why would he have to painstakingly carry magic stones and dropped items all the way here.

"I can't use the space inside temporarily because I've activated a certain skill on my person."

Broly explained.

"Then why can I use it?"

Chun asked curiously.

"This is one of the benefits of becoming my wife: you can share the use of the Crystal Palace's internal space."

"There's actually such a good thing?"

Chun's eyes lit up instantly.

"Doesn't that mean that when I go into the Dungeon in the future, I can stuff everything inside and never have to carry heavy loads on the road again?"

Personal Spaces in this world were existences comparable to cheats.

Especially for Exploration Familias that need to delve deep into the Labyrinth, if freed from the burden of weight, they could advance toward deeper areas—after all, deeper areas rarely had Material Layers, and once supplies ran out, they would be forced to retreat.

"Hmm, you can use the Crystal Palace's space however you like." Broly nodded, then added, "However, I hope you don't touch some of the things stored inside at random; some are gifts others gave me."

"Hahaha, don't worry, I'm not the kind of person who randomly touches other people's things!"

Chun patted her chest to guarantee it.

"Also, you were originally not on my Encounter List; now including you in it requires me to spend Happiness Points" as a price.

But as long as you can always be happy, I can gain Happiness Points, so, please Miss Chun, try to keep a pleasant mood from now on, so I can recover my costs sooner."

Broly was essentially giving the other person a Friend Wife position, so he spoke quite plainly.

"I see, that's no problem."

The One-Eyed Craftsman made an OK gesture and agreed directly.

Bell, standing by, watched the whole thing but was completely baffled.

He couldn't see the so-called Crystal Palace Panel, so naturally he couldn't quite understand the conversation between the two.

After leaving the Hephaestus Familia's headquarters and coming to the main street, Bell finally couldn't help but ask: "Broly-san, you and Miss Chun, does this count as completing the encounter?"

"Hmm, it counts as completed."

Broly nodded.

"But———can this really count as an encounter?" Bell's expression was especially strange, "It's completely different from when you encountered Lady Hestia, Miss Lili, and the others."

"Bell, I ask you, what is an encounter for?"

Broly suddenly stopped and looked at the boy beside him.

"An encounter, of course, is to develop a close relationship with the encounter target———"

Bell's fair face turned red, and he answered in a small voice.

"Then what is the ultimate purpose for?"

Broly pressed further.

"Ah, this———"

While Bell stammered, thinking about adult matters, Broly had already given the answer himself.

"The ultimate purpose isn't to get the encounter target to agree to be one's wife?"

"Uh———probably."

"Then tell me, Miss Chun Cobrand, did she just agree to be my wife?"

"Uh———it seems she agreed."

"Then isn't that settled?"

Broly shrugged, looking as if it were only natural.

"Since the ultimate purpose of the Encounter has already been achieved, it naturally counts as completing the Encounter."

"But isn't this a bit too casual? Your conversation with Miss Chun just now, Broly-san, was practically like a joke!"

Bell couldn't help but retort, it was just like someone pulling out Yellow Paper from their pocket, and the other person asking if they wanted to become Sworn Brothers, immediately followed by both kneeling on the ground shouting that they didn't ask to be born on the same year, month, and day, and then becoming Sworn Brothers just like that.

"That's because Miss Chun wasn't originally on my list of people I planned to Encounter."

Broly admitted frankly.

"Then Broly-san, why did you want to Encounter her again?"

Bell was somewhat confused.

"Because she was willing to let me Encounter her, and I thought adding one more Encounter Target wouldn't hurt, after all, everyone is friends."

"Broly-san, what you mean is, as long as they are friends and willing to let you Encounter them, you're willing to Encounter all of them?"

"Well, not exactly. I just thought that if it were Chun, Lady Hestia and Lili probably wouldn't refuse me Encountering them, so I just Encountered her directly."

Bell: "————"

Lady Hestia indeed had a good relationship with Miss Chun, mainly because after Lady Hestia descended to the Lower World, when she was staying at the Hephaestus Familia, Chun Cobrand was responsible for receiving and taking care of this Lazy Goddess.

As for Liliruca, her friendship with Miss Chun wasn't bad either; that set of gorgeous Attire was custom-made by Chun for her.

Even so, Bell really couldn't learn Broly-san's attitude of completing an Encounter so nonchalantly.

After all, since he grew up, the only woman he had truly Encountered in the real sense was Miss Anna alone.

Thinking of this, the image of the Rabbit Person girl Irene involuntarily surfaced in the boy's mind.

But he soon shook his head hard, driving away that thought.

Irene was one year younger than him, too young, that was a crime.

"By the way, Bell."

Just as Bell was having Random Thoughts, Broly suddenly handed over a Bill/Check.

"This is your reward for accompanying me to dive into the Dungeon today and subjugating the Floor Boss together."

"Ah? Broly-san, I can't take this!" Bell hurriedly waved his hand, "Miss Lili is short on money over there, let's leave this money for her!"

The Bill/Check clearly wrote Ten Million Valis.

Bell knew in his heart that Broly's subjugation of Goliath this time was originally to help Liliruca solve the urgent problem after becoming Team Leader.

He didn't put in much effort the whole process, and taking a ten percent share for nothing really made him feel uneasy.

"The money is indeed needed on Lili's side."

Broly pondered for a moment, then had an idea, "How about this, your reward this time will be converted into a commission for Alcohol Brewing."

"After the wine is brewed, let the Soma Familia help sell it, and finally settle the Payment with you, just treat it as an investment, how about it?"

"Okay, Broly-san, you decide!"

Hearing this, Bell immediately nodded and agreed.

The two were just preparing to set off for the Soma Familia's base, when a figure walked toward them.

It was a tall Goddess with wine-red hair, exactly the Main God of the Hephaestus Familia, Hephaestus.

"Isn't this Broly, why do you have time to come to my place today?"

The Goddess's voice was clear and pleasant.

"Lady Hephaestus, good afternoon."

Broly and Bell stopped their feet and greeted the other party.

"We came to sell the drops from subjugating the Floor Boss."

Broly answered truthfully.

"You went to subjugate Goliath again?"

"Mm."

"It's for Liliruca's matter, right?"

"Huh?"

"Don't be surprised." Hephaestus chuckled lightly and explained, "I went to North Main Street today and bought Fried Potato Balls at the Fried Potato Ball Shop where Hestia works part-time, and she mentioned this matter."

"That child just got promoted to Team Leader, and cleaning up the messy Familia left by the Former Team Leader isn't easy either."

"Coincidentally, my Familia also needs some Alcohol, how about you help me order some Alcohol from Liliruca's side?"

"Mm, about 20000000 Valis worth of Alcohol will do, quite a few of my children like drinking Alcohol."

"Do you want Divine Wine?"

Broly suddenly asked.

", Divine Wine is also sold?"

Hephaestus was somewhat surprised.

Divine Wine, the Soma Familia produces and sells quite a lot themselves, but relatively little flows outward, at least through Regular Channels because it is regulated and not much, so it counts as a rare item on the Market.

"Of course it's sold."

"Then add 5000000 Valis worth of Divine Wine, how about it?"

"No problem."

"As for the Payment, after the wine is delivered to my Familia, I'll have Chun settle it with you directly."

Hephaestus waved her hand, bade farewell to the two, turned around and returned to the base.

Just as she stepped onto the Second Floor and pushed open the Gate of the Forge Room, Hephaestus saw her own Team Leader playing happily with a Iron Hammer, that Iron Hammer in Chun's hands, sometimes disappearing, sometimes appearing, like Magecraft.

"Chun, what are you doing?"

Hephaestus couldn't help but ask.

"This is that child Broly's Space Ability; what do you think, Lord Hephaestus?"

Chin proudly told her own Main God the new capability she had obtained.

"It does indeed look quite useful."

Hephaestus nodded, then immediately frowned.

"However, how would you suddenly come to possess that child Broly's Space Ability?

Could it be that his capability can even be shared for others to use?"

"Mm, it should be possible."

Chin nodded.

"Then how did you persuade him to share the capability with you?"

Hephaestus curiously pursued the question.

"I didn't persuade him; I just agreed to one trivial matter for him and obtained this capability."

"What trivial matter?"

"Nothing much, just agreed to become one of that child's wives."

Chin's tone was haphazard, as if speaking of an utterly insignificant matter.

"I see, agreed to become one of his wives————wait, what did you say?!" Hephaestus first subconsciously nodded, then suddenly reacted, his voice abruptly rising, "Say what you just said one more time?!"